56 acid attacks on women reported in three months on New Delhi hotline

New visibility of violence against women in India leads to greater awareness, support

A
new helpline for women received 56 reports of acid attacks in New Delhi
in three months, the Times of India reported this week. "Acid attacks
on girls are not uncommon," Khadijah Faruqui, an activist-lawyer who is
monitoring the hotline's operations says. "In most of these cases the
girl had shown no interest or refused to develop a relationship with a
man interested in her," she added.

While there are no official statistics on acid attacks in India, a study conducted by Cornell University in January 2011 said that 153 such attacks had been reported in the media from 1999 to 2010.

Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "The men have used acid to threaten the girls and (in many cases) thrown it on them," she added. "As many as 56 cases (were) reported to the helpline" between February and April.

Acid flinging, where acid or other caustic liquids are intentionally thrown on women or young girls in an attempt to maim, disfigure or blind. Actually occurs in many countries but is most commonly reported in Cambodia, followed by Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. These Asian nations are notorious for their highly patriarchal societies.

Of the 1,500 acid attacks are reported globally each year, 80 percent of them on women. According to the London-based charity Acid Survivors Trust International, these figures aren't accurate as most victims are too scared to speak out and the real figure is much higher.

While there are no official statistics on acid attacks in India, a study conducted by Cornell University in January 2011 said that 153 such attacks had been reported in the media from 1999 to 2010.

Many of these attacks were acts of revenge because a woman spurned sexual advances or rejected a marriage proposal, the study said.

Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for March 2015
Universal: Scientists: That those involved in scientific research may serve the well-being of the whole human person.
Evangelization: Contribution of women: That the unique contribution of women to the life of the Church may be recognized always.

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